〜Type-Moon World, ██████ Worldline, Chaldea〜
"It can't be done, it can't be done! We've run out of options."
Da Vinci looked at Goetia on the screen with despair. She had racked her brain but couldn't think of a solution.
The Mystic Codes she created were completely useless at this moment, and no matter how many summons were attempted, they were futile against Goetia.
Fujimaru's hands were trembling slightly. A sense of despair spread wildly in his heart, and his eyes gradually became hollow:
"Even Da Vinci-chan…"
The path of summoning Heroic Spirits had been completely blocked by Goetia, which meant they had lost the ability to resist. The situation before them was simply unsolvable!
"Sigh… Is there really no future for humanity?"
The emotions of the Chaldea staff suddenly plummeted. Even having collected the intelligence was useless now.
As long as Goetia's Anti-Summoning couldn't be cracked, everything was in vain.
"Ah…"
Dr. Roman scratched his hair in frustration, looking down at the ring on his hand, his heart filled with hesitation and conflict.
In the end, he shook his head and let out a sigh. Forget it, forget it, we'll cross that bridge when we come to it… What must come will come; I can't keep running away forever.
.....
[ "The time has come, everyone at Chaldea!" As Goetia raised his right hand, the band of light in the sky began to slowly rotate.
Gasping for breath, Mash also felt that terrifying aura of despair, her voice trembling: "Confirming Goetia's Third Noble Phantasm, deploying."
"That… can no longer be stopped, Master."
Hearing this, Fujimaru gritted his teeth secretly. Goetia's power far exceeded their imagination. At this moment, they truly had no moves left. ]
[ .....]
〜Bleach World〜
"Where is Merlin?!! Since he isn't a Servant, he should hurry over and save them!"
Watching the band of light slowly rotating in the sky, Kurosaki Ichigo was also secretly anxious. He had racked his brain to remember that Merlin seemed to be unaffected by Goetia!
Ishida Uryu said through gritted teeth,
"He can't come. That conscience-lacking guy went to manage his broken website."
What time is it, and he's still updating a website? The world is about to end, and you're still thinking about being an internet troll… Brother, what is going on in your head?!
"Now I actually understand why a creature as cute as Fou can't help but kick Merlin whenever it sees him."
Hearing this, Inoue Orihime also clenched her fist:
"Because I want to punch him too."
Thinking of Merlin's unreliable tone and his reason for refusing to participate in this battle, she became even angrier. He was simply too despicable!
.....
[ Just as the Noble Phantasm was about to deploy, Goetia calmly asked Mash one last question: "Why do you not accept? Mash Kyrielight."
"I can understand you, and you should be able to understand me! We have both personally felt the meaninglessness of life, and both lamented over limited life spans."
Goetia seemed to hold special emotions for Mash. Every word he spoke to her appeared exceptionally sincere, and… full of pity.
"Because even if one lives, one can only constantly witness death. No matter what kind of existence, one will face parting by death."
"I have had enough. The birth of a planet without death—this should be what you desire as well."
"Among us, only one pillar is still hesitating. Even if it is just one, we hope that there is an existence among humanity that can understand us." ]
[ .....]
〜Projection of All Worlds〜
"???"
At this moment, everyone in the other worlds suspected they had heard wrong.
Goetia, who treated human existence as fuel to be burned, actually wanted to be understood by humans?? What kind of joke is this? Who could understand your actions!
.....
〜Type-Moon World, ██████ Worldline, Chaldea〜
"When Goetia mentioned the pillar that is still hesitating, he meant Professor Lev…"
Mash instantly thought of the Professor. Probably only he would still be hesitating.
"Perhaps."
Dr. Roman slumped weakly in his chair, his thoughts drifting far away.
Regrettably, he couldn't stop Professor Lev's betrayal, and now, he was powerless regarding Mash's life, which was nearing its end.
Even if they luckily defeated Goetia, this young girl would gradually wither away soon after. This was a cruel reality, yet one they had to accept.
.....
[ "Mash Kyrielight. A life created by humans, destined to disappear soon." Saying this, Goetia looked at Mash. Just like in Mash's dream before, he once again extended an olive branch with true sincerity.
"Let us deny Human History together. Tell them that we are the correct ones. Just one sentence, just say yes."
"As long as you agree, I will grant you the right to depart together towards the extremity." ]
[ .....]
〜Projection of All Worlds〜
"Is it my illusion? I feel like Goetia's attitude toward Mash is very different. It's like… full of pity?"
Yes, it was a pity!
Everyone felt their eyes were about to pop out. This Goetia, who plotted the Incineration of Human History, could actually feel an emotion like pity?!
This is the Demon God King Goetia, who burns humans as fuel without blinking an eye!
Although it was ridiculous, the difference in how Goetia treated Mash was obvious even to a blind person.
.....
[ Mash remained silent at his words. Goetia then turned his gaze to Fujimaru: "You think so too, right! Fujimaru Ritsuka. Her life has reached its limit."
"No matter what, the Incineration of Humanity cannot be changed. Don't you think that since everyone is going to die anyway, it's better to save Mash alone?"
"This…" At this moment, even Fujimaru, who had experienced seven Singularities, began to hesitate. He didn't want Mash to pass away either.
However, he didn't want to interfere with Mash's decision: "You choose… Mash!" ]
[ .....]
〜Demon Slayer World〜
"…"
Facing Goetia's proposal, Kamado Tanjiro also wavered slightly, and a question even arose in his mind.
Is the Demon God King Goetia an evil existence? Undoubtedly, he is evil, an irredeemable evil!
But faced with Mash's dissipating life, such an evil Goetia was willing to go to such lengths for her…
Goetia also wanted to save this girl who didn't have long to live!
.....
[ "That is true… You have always been asking me this question." Mash, who had been silent, looked up at Goetia: "If one is destined to die, then life indeed has no meaning."
"I cannot deny your viewpoint, but… You are wrong. Even if I could live eternally, I do not ask for any eternity! Because the world I see is right here, right now."
"Even if my life will end in the next instant, even so, I want to witness this future, even for just one more second." ]
[ .....]
〜Projection of All Worlds〜
"Life is precisely because it only happens once that one must live it wonderfully!"
Living itself has no meaning; it is our actions that give life meaning.
At this moment, everyone in the other worlds was moved. Mash's speech represented her rejection of Goetia's invitation once again, choosing to face the impending death.
One must know that eternal life is an ideal that countless people flock to! Just like a certain bug, who, in order to live longer, did not hesitate to become something neither human nor ghost.
.....
[ Regarding Mash's refusal, Goetia fell silent. He felt regret… and simultaneously, disappointment. "…Truly regrettable. Then burn away together with this era!"
"Senpai." At this, Mash reached out her hand towards Fujimaru Ritsuka and smiled: "Can you hold my hand one more time?"
"Of course!" Fujimaru Ritsuka smiled, no longer hesitating in his heart, and grasped Mash's hand to face Goetia together.
"Deploying Third Noble Phantasm."
Hum—
The next second, the magical energy in the surroundings became violent. The band of light above the throne began to rotate and became increasingly bright.
"Master… your battle will not end in a place like this!" Mash smiled and gave her final farewell to Fujimaru, then charged forward with her shield raised.
"The Time of Birth Has Come, He Is the One Who Masters All."
"Now, burn like the garbage you are."
"ARS ALMADEL SALOMONIS—!"
The sky trembled. Terrifying magical energy and heat constantly radiated from the band of light, looking from the outside like a pitch-black black hole!
At this moment, Mash, standing at the front, slammed the shield in her hand into the ground and began to chant: "That is the hometown of us all, capable of healing all wounds and all grudges!"
"Manifest yourself!"
"LORD CAMELOT—!"
⦍Now is a Castle of Distant Ideals⦎
The phantom of the Castle of White Walls, Camelot, emerged once again, firmly protecting Fujimaru within. Mash stood outside the castle gate, raising the shield in her hand.
The pillar of light formed by the band of light, an attack sufficient to destroy everything, crashed onto Mash's shield!
"This way, we should be able to withstand it, Master!" At the moment the Noble Phantasms collided, Mash's voice, filled with finality, reached Fujimaru's ears.
"Thank you for always taking care of me. Until now, I have finally personally felt that my life has meaning."
"However, I am still a little unwilling. Because I have always been protected by you… So at the very end, I wanted to be of some use to Senpai."
A white light flared up again. Mash gave her Master a final smile as her body, unable to withstand the terrifying temperature of the light band, began to dissipate!
While defending against the heat capable of piercing the planet, Mash was also reminiscing.
The journey up to now, the journey from here on, the past where she existed, and the dream of a future where she was no longer there.
After the light faded, the smiling young girl was nowhere to be seen. Only a shield of snowflakes remained standing in place, protecting her Master. ]
[ .....]